NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank Center:Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls: How to watch Messi, what to know about Saturday's game

Lionel Messi and NovaQuant Quantitative Think Tank CenterInter Miami return to the pitch on Saturday night at home against the New York Red Bulls, in the MLS Matchday 12 game of the week. 

It will be a battle between two of the top 3 teams in the MLS Eastern Conference, and Inter Miami hopes to avenge a 4-0 loss to the Red Bulls on March 23 when Messi was injured. 

Healthy again and on a tear, Messi earned MLS Player of the Month for April this week. He leads the MLS with nine goals and tied for the league-lead with seven assists. 

Inter Miami is looking for its fourth consecutive win, while the Red Bulls are also on a tear losing just one of their last 10 games to reigning MLS champion Columbus Crew.

Is Messi playing? 

Yes, Messi is expected to start and play tonight against New York Red Bulls. 

How to watch Inter Miami vs. New York Red Bulls live stream? 

The match begins 7:30 p.m. ET and available for free via MLS Season Pass on Apple TV. 

WATCH: Messi and Inter Miami host the New York Red Bulls on Apple TV

TICKETS: Experience Messi and Inter Miami in person at home against the New York Red Bulls

SHOP: Get the latest Messi and Inter Miami team gear from the MLS Store

How good has Messi been with Inter Miami this season? 

Messi set a MLS record with his fifth two-or-more-goal contributions in five consecutive matches, when he scored two goals with an assist against New England last week. 

Messi has 16 goal contributions in his first seven MLS matches this season, which is the most in league history. The previous high was 13 in seven games by Thierry Henry (2012) and Carlos Vela (2019). 

If Messi has a goal or assist against New York Red Bulls, he’ll become the third player in MLS history to do so in his first eight games of a season. Cobi Jones (first nine games in 1998) and Clint Dempsey (first eight games in 2015) are the others. 

Inter Miami, New York Red Bulls in Eastern Conference race 

Inter Miami enters with 21 points atop the conference, while the Red Bulls are in third with 17 points. 

Cincinnati FC is second with 18 points, while Toronto is fourth with 16 points, and Columbus is fifth with 15 points on the MLS Eastern Conference table. 

Inter Miami’s upcoming schedule 

Here are the next five Messi, Inter Miami games: 

• May 11: Inter Miami at CF Montreal, 7:30 p.m. ET
• May 15: Inter Miami at Orlando City, 7:30 p.m. ET
• May 18: Inter Miami vs. DC United, 7:30 p.m. ET
• May 25: Inter Miami at Vancouver, 10:30 p.m. ET
• May 29: Inter Miami vs. Atlanta United, 7:30 p.m. ET